Moles & Skin Lesion Removal: Mr Nakul Patel Plastic Surgeon

Overview

A precise, thoughtful approach

Mr Nakul Patel offers a precise, thoughtful approach to mole and skin lesion removal in Leicester, Nottingham, and across the East Midlands. He assesses each lesion carefully before recommending the most appropriate technique, ensures that removed tissue is always sent for histological examination, and focuses on achieving the best possible cosmetic result from the resulting scar. If there is any clinical concern about a lesion's appearance, he will ensure it is managed appropriately — including referral or further investigation where needed.

Mr Nakul Patel during a patient consultation

The Condition

What Are Benign Skin Lesions?

Any mole that is changing, growing, bleeding, or that looks irregular should be assessed promptly.

Benign skin lesions are growths on or within the skin that are not cancerous. They are extremely common — most people have multiple moles, cysts, or other skin lesions by adulthood, and the vast majority cause no problem. Common types include melanocytic naevi (moles), epidermoid and pilar cysts, dermatofibromas, seborrhoeic keratoses, skin tags, viral warts and verrucae, pyogenic granulomas, and sebaceous hyperplasia.

Most moles are stable and harmless throughout life. However, any mole or pigmented lesion showing asymmetry, border irregularity, colour variation, a diameter larger than 6mm, or any change in size, shape, or colour should be assessed promptly rather than waiting for a routine appointment.

Mr Patel will assess any lesion of concern at consultation, advise on the most appropriate management, and — if a lesion has features requiring urgent assessment or referral — arrange this promptly. This list of lesion types is not exhaustive; he will advise on any lesion you are unsure about.

Benefits

Reasons to Consider Removal

There are many valid reasons to have a mole or skin lesion removed, from diagnostic reassurance to simple comfort and confidence.

Diagnostic Confirmation

Where the clinical appearance raises any uncertainty, surgical excision with histological examination of the removed tissue provides definitive diagnosis.

Clinical Change

Any lesion that has changed in size, shape, colour, or character is removed with confidence, backed by histological confirmation.

Irritation and Inflammation

Relief for lesions that repeatedly catch on clothing, jewellery, seatbelts, or that become inflamed or infected.

Recurrent Symptoms

Removal of lesions that bleed, itch persistently, or cause ongoing discomfort.

Cosmetic Concern

Removal of lesions in prominent positions that affect confidence or appearance.

Mr Patel will discuss these potential benefits in the context of your individual lesion and goals, ensuring that expectations are realistic and outcomes are personalised to you.

Suitability

Are You Suitable for Lesion Removal?

A brief assessment ensures the most appropriate technique is chosen and any concerning features are managed appropriately.

Have a lesion causing diagnostic uncertainty that would benefit from histological confirmation
Have a lesion that repeatedly catches on clothing, jewellery, or seatbelts, or becomes inflamed
Have a lesion that bleeds, itches persistently, or causes discomfort
Have a lesion in a prominent position affecting your confidence or appearance
Have a lesion that has changed in size, shape, colour, or character

The lesion or surrounding skin has active infection or inflammation — for example, an infected cyst is usually treated first before excision
The lesion shows features requiring urgent dermatological assessment (asymmetry, border irregularity, colour variation, diameter over 6mm, or rapid change) rather than routine removal

Observation: For stable, asymptomatic lesions with no features of concern, ongoing monitoring may be a reasonable alternative to removal.

Non-surgical management: Straightforward viral warts and verrucae are usually managed non-surgically, with surgical excision reserved for resistant or troublesome lesions.

Techniques

Types of Lesion Removal

The most appropriate technique depends on the type, size, depth, and position of the lesion. Mr Patel will discuss the most appropriate approach for you at consultation.

Technique	Best For	Key Features	Scar	Outcome
Elliptical Excision	Most lesions; full thickness required	Complete removal; margin defined	Linear scar	Definitive removal + histology
Shave Excision	Raised benign lesions	Surface removal; heals without sutures	Small, round	Good cosmesis; histology obtained
Punch Excision	Small round lesions	Precise circular removal	Small	Clean excision
Cyst Excision	Epidermoid, pilar cysts	Complete wall removal	Small linear	Prevents recurrence

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Informed Consent

Risks & Complications

Mole and skin lesion removal is a minor and well-established procedure. As with any surgery, potential risks include the following, which will be discussed at consultation.

Mild discomfort, swelling, and bruising — expected and settles within days
A scar — unavoidable but minimised by careful technique and aftercare

Infection or wound breakdown — uncommon; usually managed with dressings or antibiotics
Haematoma (blood collection beneath the wound)
Scar hypertrophy or widening — more likely in high-tension areas or in predisposed individuals
Keloid scarring — particularly in predisposed skin types and on the upper chest, shoulders, and earlobes
Altered sensation or numbness around the scar
Recurrence — particularly for cysts if the wall is not completely removed
Need for further surgery if histology reveals unexpected pathology
Dissatisfaction with cosmetic outcome

Questions

Frequently Asked

Yes. Many patients choose to have entirely benign, harmless lesions removed simply because they're bothersome — catching on clothing, being repeatedly irritated, or affecting confidence. This is a personal decision, and Mr Patel will advise on the technique likely to give the best cosmetic result.

The area is numbed with local anaesthetic first, which causes a brief sting that quickly passes — after that, the procedure itself is painless. Most people describe some tenderness for a day or two afterwards, well managed with simple pain relief.

Yes — every lesion removed, whatever the reason for removal, is sent to a pathology laboratory for histological examination. This confirms the diagnosis and provides reassurance, or occasionally identifies something requiring further management.

Sutures are typically removed at 5–10 days, sooner on the face and later on the body. Every excision leaves some scar, but Mr Patel orientates incisions along natural skin creases wherever possible, and with good aftercare most scars fade to a fine, much less noticeable line over 12–18 months.

It can, which is exactly why lesions that look concerning are best assessed by an experienced clinician rather than self-diagnosed. Seborrhoeic keratoses are warty, pigmented, and entirely benign, but their brown-to-black colour often worries patients — Mr Patel can usually distinguish them clinically, and histology confirms the diagnosis if any lesion is removed.

If a mole shows any concerning features — asymmetry, irregular borders, colour variation, a diameter over 6mm, or recent change — this warrants prompt assessment rather than waiting for a routine appointment. Concerning lesions referred through the NHS urgent pathway are typically assessed within a set national timeframe, though timing for a private consultation with Mr Patel can often be arranged sooner.

Removing the cyst wall completely, not just draining its contents, is the key to preventing recurrence — this is standard practice in Mr Patel's approach. A cyst can still recur if any part of the wall is inadvertently left behind, though this is uncommon with careful surgical technique.

Shave excision removes a raised lesion at skin level without stitches, leaving a small round mark — suitable for lesions that don't extend deeply. Full (elliptical) excision removes the lesion with its full depth and a margin of surrounding tissue, closed with stitches, and is needed for lesions requiring complete removal or where any diagnostic uncertainty exists. Mr Patel will recommend the right technique for your specific lesion at consultation.

All tissue removed at surgery is sent to a pathology laboratory for histological examination. This confirms the diagnosis, and — importantly — confirms that any lesion removed for concern is indeed benign, or identifies it if it is not. Mr Patel will contact you with the histology result and arrange any necessary further management.

Moles & Lesions Removal

A precise, thoughtful approach

What Are Benign Skin Lesions?